1
as in speech
the art of speaking in public eloquently and effectively
a presidential hopeful with a gift for oratory and a highly charismatic personality
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in rhetoric
language that is impressive-sounding but not meaningful or sincere
the politician's oratory sounded good only to people who didn't bother to think
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of oratory
Her brand at the time was something like the Obama of the antipodes: a liberal media darling, icon of the global anti-Trump resistance, transitioning smoothly from lofty oratory to easygoing relatability.
—
Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
Hugo would likely have been repelled and fascinated by Trump’s demagoguery, his rambling mendacity, his grammatically illogical but easy-to-follow oratory.
—Graham Robb, The Atlantic, 9 June 2025
After escaping from slavery in Maryland in 1838, Douglass became a national leader of the abolitionist movement in Massachusetts and New York and gained fame for his oratory and incisive antislavery writings.
—New Atlas, 7 June 2025
Darrow, in spite of his powerful oratory, and in spite of outmaneuvering Bryan during their exchange, was up against the fact that Scopes had admitted to teaching evolution, in violation of the Butler Act.
—Dan Falk, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for oratory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oratory
Noun
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Chalamet shouted out to O'Leary during his speech at the Golden Globes on Sunday, after winning Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy.—
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Researchers have developed a new framework that synchronizes lifelike lip movements with speech audio, creating more humanlike expressions.—
Noun
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This reform effort did not emerge from academic theory or ceremonial Sunshine Week rhetoric.—
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Corey Perry, a newcomer to the team, is already fitting right in with his rhetoric.—
Noun
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Players understanding the play calls filtered through his thick Southern elocution.—
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The delightful elocution of their dry-as-martini witticisms (dialect coach Nancy Carlin) adds to the joys of this period piece.—
Noun
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Goldberg also spoke out on the air against Charlie Kirk's assassin in September, after the conservative commentator was killed during a public speaking event on a college campus in Utah earlier this year.—
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Toastmasters meetings help participants improve public speaking, communication and professional presentation skills.—
Cite this Entry
“Oratory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oratory. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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